Posted by Racer on March 4, 2006, at 14:06:33
In reply to Question for Racer, posted by cecilia on March 4, 2006, at 2:27:14
> What doctors say that comorbid anxiety and depression are always bipolar? My pdoc said the exact opposite, that depression and anxiety are basically the same thing. I certainly have both, and no signs of being bipolar. Cecilia
LoL! That's more my view of it. I know that I suffer depression, and I know that it is often triggered by unremitting anxiety. I've often gone through periods when I know that, if my anxiety could just be brought under control, I would not sink into the depression. (Of course, so far, nothing has brought the anxiety under control. Pray you're never without insurance or other resources when you start to slide. Or that your county has good mental health care if you do find yourself there.)
The thinking seems to be the new trend. With all the new bipolar dxs, BP III, BP IV, etc, some doctors are saying, "Well, the irritibilty, and anxiety, those are really a different expression of hypomania. So, if someone is anxious and doesn't respond to antidepressant treatment, it's important to rule out bipolar..." So far so good, but you know how some people like to find cheat sheets? Some doctors like to say, "Well, in that case, I'll just assume bipolar until proven otherwise." And we all know how easy it is to find the symptoms you're looking for, right?
I don't agree with it. I don't think that someone who sees me 1/2 an hour a month is going to get much sense of whether I'm anxious and depressed, or expressing hypomania another way. My T says, unequivocally, that I am NOT bipolar. Not even willing to discuss the matter, because she says it simply does not fit me. And, since talking to my T, my new pdoc doesn't seem to say it anymore, either.
Then again, thank you anxiety -- I am finding that I question it myself every time I have trouble sleeping... lol
Hope that's an answer. I didn't sleep very well last night. :-}
poster:Racer
thread:615349
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060304/msgs/615878.html